Dental plaque removal ability of different power toothbrushes: a preliminary study of a novel automated toothbrush

Although currently used power toothbrushes have shown promising results in comparison with manual toothbrushes, automated toothbrushes have risen recently to improve oral hygiene and fulfil the limitations of dexterity of users. The present study intends to evaluate the efficacy of dental plaque removal ability of two automated toothbrushes: V-White and a recently developed mechanical toothbrush, Cyberbrush, with an ultrasonic power toothbrush by using the typodont model. Typodonts were divided into four quadrants and further divided into four zones each (two teeth per zone). Photographs were taken from each area, with unstained typodonts - negative control (0% plaque), and typodonts were covered with black chalk and used as a positive control (100% plaque). Three typodonts were prepared according to three experimental groups, including (1) FairyWill, (2) Cyberbrush and (3) V-White toothbrush. Toothbrushing was performed for 2 min, and then, photographs were taken per zone of each typodont, imported into the ImageJ software, and the percentage of the remaining dental plaque was measured. Data were analysed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests at the level of significance p < .05. The highest percentage of dental plaque was detected in the V-White toothbrush group, and the lowest was seen in the FairyWill group. Significant differences were only noticed between the groups of V-White toothbrushes with the other two groups (p < .05). Within 2 min of brushing time, neither the ultrasonic and nor the automated toothbrushes could completely remove the artificial dental plaque.